A POEM IS JUST THE BEGINNING ...

TODAY WE ARE GOING TO:

• Learn about different poetry techniques • Compare different techniques and their effect

on the reader • Write a poem for Young Writers’ The Poetry

Trials competition

WHAT ARE POETIC TECHNIQUES?

Poetry techniques enhance your words, convey emotion and help to persuade the

reader to feel a certain way.

WHAT IS TONE?

Tone is the attitude of the writer towards the subject matter. Tone can be playful, sad, excited, regretful, etc. And the tone can change throughout the poem. Poets

use carefully chosen diction (style of writing) and syntax (arrangement of words/phrases) to create a

tone which, in turn with other poetic techniques, creates the mood for the overall poem – and the mood

is what the writer wants the reader to feel.

WHAT IS IMAGERY?

Imagery is the ‘picture’ the writer creates using only words. Use the senses to convey imagery – let the

reader see / hear / feel / taste / smell and definitely use your imagination! Think about your choice of verbs –

this can add energy and movement to your writing. Use colours too – dark colours for sadness, reds and pinks

for love or blood etc...

WHAT IS SYMBOLISM?

Symbolism is a person, place, action, word, or object that (by association, resemblance, or convention)

represents something other than itself. For example, colours are often used – black symbolises death; white

is purity or innocence; blue is calm. Objects too – a mirror, if broken, symbolises bad luck, but unbroken can symbolise vanity; a red rose symbolises love; a Ferrai symbolises wealth and a lion can symbolise

danger, social status and courage.

WHAT IS RHYME?

A rhyme is when two words sound the same when spoken. Rhyme is used to help create a pattern within a poem. Our example poem has a rhyme pattern of

lines 1 and 3, and lines 2 and 4. You could use rhyming couplets, where each pair of lines ends up in a rhyme.

E.g In the morning the sun shone bright Clearing the thoughts of the dark night.

WHAT IS METAPHOR?

A metaphor is there to make an even stronger image in the reader’s head by describing a place, subject or

object as something unlikely. Metaphors are used in poetry to create different effects, to create an image of

comparison in your thoughts. E.g. A sea of trouble

Drowning in debt The world is a stage

WHAT IS ONOMATOPOEIA?

Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates the sound or suggests the source of the sound that it describes.

Crack goes Mother Nature’s spine The tin can clatters down the litter-filled alleyway The rocket roars out of the Earth’s atmosphere

E.g.

EXAMPLE POEM Bully

Like a timid mouse, quaking and cowering, Waiting for the inevitable ...

The vicious words, The cruel taunts,

Watch my face crumple and tears erupt, Pulse racing, heart thumping

Willing the courage that never comes, Waiting for Mouse to evolve into Lion

For Mouse to see red and to fight back, But no, Mouse flees, back to the mousehole.

Bully wins again.

What Have We Done?

The oceans are empty, nothing is left, The fish are all gone, the whales are all dead, Overfishing and whaling have left waters bereft Of anything but black wrecks upon the seabed. The jungles are quiet, no beasts to be seen, Tigers are nothing but rugs on the floor, The Earth weeps for what could have been, Her sweet dreams of paradise are no more. Thud! The last tree fell. Squawk! The last bird fled. Splash! The last whale surfaced. Bang! ...It was worth more dead.

EXAMPLE POEM

Rainforests ruined, savannahs squandered, The natural world is a ghost town now, An empty wasteland to be wandered, How did this happen, how? What could have caused this devastion? Was it God’s wrath or natural disaster? No, it was us, so-called civilisation.

THEME IDEA 1 – YOUR EMOTIONS

What it is like to be you

A memory

Your hopes and fears

Being a teenager in today’s society

Something you feel passionate about

Something that upsets you, or makes you angry; vent your frustration through poetry!

The world ‘teenage’ is synonymous with angst, mood swings, being misunderstood and even fear. But is this accurate? Use poetry to tell your side of the story and express your emotions in a positive way. What is it like being a teenager in today’s world? What do you deal with on a daily basis? What do you worry about? What makes you happy? If you struggle with telling people how you really feel, then poetry is the perfect outlet. Tell the world what it’s like being you, in your own words.

THEME IDEA 2 – THE FUTURE

What the world will be like to live in, in the future

How technology has changed the world, for better or for worse.

What your hopes, dreams and ambitions are

What your generation’s legacy will be

Compare the past, present and the future

The end of the world as we know it...

What do you think the future holds? You can think about it either on a personal level – what will you be doing in the future, or on a countrywide or even global scale? What is the legacy that the current world leaders are leaving for future generations? Will there be a world to enjoy or will it be a wasteland of human struggle as depicted by so much dystopian fiction? What about technology? How will that have advanced in the future? Robots, flying cars, colonies on Mars... And what will the iPhone 25 be capable of? The possibilities are endless.

WRITING EXERCISE?

Your teacher will show / hand you 2 poems to annotate:

Have you identified any poetic techniques used? Write a brief summary of each example poem and include the tone used. How did these poems make you feel?

COMPOSING A POEM THINGS TO CONSIDER ...

How do you want the reader to feel? What poetic techniques will you use? Are you going to use a rhyme scheme or a poetic form? Enjoy writing your poem!

WHEN YOUR POEM IS COMPLETE Work with a partner Read your poem to them Your partner is to provide feedback; something they like about the poem and a suggestion on how it could be improved You then listen to your partner’s poem and provide them with feedback Make any changes to your work before handing it in to your teacher Ensure your name and age are included on your work!

WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED WRITING YOUR POEM TODAY!

CLOSING DATE: FRIDAY 27TH MAY 2016

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